Review of Us Against You by Fredrik Backman

Hello Readers,

Thank you to Atria Books for generously supplying me with a free review copy of Us Against You by Fredrik Backman. I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

After I finished reading Beartown last summer I felt like the story finished in just the right way. I never once thought that the book should be part of a series because I was completely content with how Backman finished his story.  After I finished reading Beartown I thought it was one of the best books I have read in quite some time. It was a story I thought I didn't want to read, but then I decided to try it anyway because it was the book club pick for Modern Mrs. Darcy, and I always try to read those books. Beartown surprised me in so many ways. It was about hockey but it also wasn't about hockey at all. It was about sports, teamwork, friendships, small towns, rivalries, teamwork, love, friendship, family, and so much more. I loved it from start to finish, so I was surprised to hear that there would be a sequel. Once I started reading Us Against You I realized that of course, it needed a sequel. I also realized that there was no way I  could be content with Beartown being a stand-alone novel of course there needed to be a sequel, and Us Against You needed to be written. 

I was lucky enough to receive a very early reader copy of Us Against you, and it sat on my shelf for awhile because I was scared of it. I was scared of being disappointed because traditionally sequels always disappoint me. I was nervous that I had hyped it up so much in my mind and it wouldn't meet up to my expections. Basically, list any reason to put off reading a book and you would have me looking at Us Against You sitting on my shelf a little longer. As I was packing for a girls weekend where basically the theme was reading I knew what book I needed to pack. I started reading it while waiting for my flight and didn't get through the first paragraph before needing to dig out my highlighter. I normally love sharing my favorite quotes in my reviews from, but that is a pointless act in this review because I highlighted so much in this book that I am couldn't possibly share it all. So I basically just need you to read it, and then we can talk about all the quotes you highlighted and see which quotes we highlighted that match. 

I read this book months ago, and I still think about it. I think about how he came to write these characters. How does his mind operate for him to create sentences that pierce me and make me think beyond what he has written like no other author I have read before? Who translates his books? Are his words even more profound in the orignal language or do we lose some of the feelings in English. And on and on.

For those who have not read Beartown, you must, go back and read that book first because this story will not have the same impact if you don't read it first. 

I highly recommend reading anything by Fredrik Backman. He will for ever more be an auto read author for me. 

Happy Reading,
Rachael